Israeli tanks surround Gaza’s Indonesian hospital amid tensions

New Delhi, Nov 21: Israeli tanks have reportedly encircled Gaza's Indonesian Hospital, where 12 people lost their lives on Sunday night, according to the health ministry. Dr. Marwan Al-Sultan, the hospital's director, revealed that the post-operative care department was hit, with troops positioned a mere 20 meters away. Intermittent gunfire continues to echo on-site.

The Israeli military claims its forces targeted "terrorists" who allegedly opened fire from within the hospital. The situation has drawn international condemnation, with Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO), expressing his shock. On X, formerly known as Twitter, he wrote, "Health workers and civilians should never have to be exposed to such horror, and especially while inside a hospital."

Ashraf al-Qudra, a spokesman for the health ministry, accused Israel of "tightening its noose" around the hospital, located in the northern part of the enclave.

Reportedly, 200 patients have been evacuated by bus to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) aiding in the coordination of the evacuation for the remaining 400 patients.

This development comes in the midst of Israel's major military campaign in Gaza, triggered by a cross-border attack by hundreds of Hamas on October 7. The conflict has resulted in a significant loss of life, with Gaza's health ministry reporting at least 13,000 casualties since the retaliatory campaign against Hamas began.

Amid the escalating crisis, the UN Security Council has issued a call for "urgent and extended humanitarian pauses" lasting "a sufficient number of days." The aim is to allow UN agencies to safely enter the sealed-off territory and provide much-needed assistance to those affected by the conflict. But five days are on since the resolution was passed but no action on the ground is visible.